Fixture for tubular electric lamps



9 Sept. 4, 1951 H. D. FlNE ET AL FIXTURE FOR TUBULAR ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Feb. 18, 1948 7 HAROLD D. FINE cwuzuzs EBARKER INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1951 FIXTURE FOR TUBULAR ELECTRIC LAMPS Harold Finefl Marblehe'ad," and Charles Barker, Danvers, -'=Mass., assignors 'to iSylvania fliectricfloducts Inc.. Salem=,:Mass;, azcorporavtion-cfiMassaachusetts Appl ication'Febmary 18, 1948.;Serial No. 9,118

1 1 vGlaim. (Cl. 211M113.)

"This-invention *relates "to electric lighting fixtures and particulariy'to fixtures for tubular fluorescent lamps.

- In the art ofmaking' fixtures ofthe above suggested-type it is important that they possess a highfactor "of'safetyand also that they possess minimum weight. In line with these desirable characteristicsefiicieney f design and ease of assembling also become extremely important. The present-inventionsupplies "these desirable qualities to create an article of-high efiiciency and utility.

It is an object- 0f the-invention to provide a fixture having valuable inherent'saiety features.

A further object' of the invention is to provide a fixture having rigid and dura'bleconstruction.

A further'obiiect ef tile-invention is to provide a fixture which is readilyassembled and disassembled.

A further object 'of'the invention is to provide a fixture having a: number of parts arranged to provide ready accessibility for replacement of parts and repair of the fixture.

The fixture is composed of a chassis member within which is received the necessary. auxiliary equipment/for operation of'theiam p. 'Ihechass'is is a one piecestructurenf'invertedtchannelshape openat its-ends. --The ends are-closed by acornbination end cap-and iampholdersupporthav'ing a vertica'i portion to close the end of the'chassis and a horizontal portion to which the lamp holders and other elements are secured.

The end cap member is provided with a quick detachable means at its upper margin for engaging the top portion of the chassis and screw means such as a plurality of bolts for securing its lower horizontal portion to the chassis. The only other element of the fixture besides the necessary lamps, lampholders and Wiring is a reflector which is constructed to provide a closure for the bottom of the chassis and has means for detachably securing it to the fixture.

To provide a better understanding of the invention a specific embodiment thereof will be described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of fixtures embodying the invention and shown interconnected in operating position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the end portion of the fixture.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the combined end cap and lampholder support.

""I hernain body orchassis 'i is' preiierably termed in general-1y channel shape cross section. chassis may be provided alongits sides" with-inwardlyio-rmedgrooves' 2 to provide me'ans for receiving the legs =of the converitionalclamptype oi. supporting bracket not-shown, *howr-sver chain supporting means is shown herein and will-badeserib-ed hereinafter. v

The ends "of the chassis l arejc'los'ed by a combina-ti-on 'end plate'and lampholder'support strap 3. 'Themember E has a verticalportion 4 (Fig Eiwvhich serves to close the end of the "chassis and a horizontal portion *dwhich extends a short distance inward-fromth'e' end "closure. "Ih'e portion 5 desirably is 'provided'with'marginal flanges 5- along its sides andback'edges which serve as strengthening andstiiierring means. "The portion '5 serves'as what'is conventionally'knownas' a socket strap usually a separate'member having special mean'sto support it' in'the'chassis. in the prese'ntinvention' howeverthis mem'ber is integral with the-end cap t and "derives support there from aswell as giving support thereto. 7

suitablameans are'provided for securing the member 5 "to thechas'sisfi'Thism'ay be done in any desired manner such as by one or more bolts "or-screws '7" projeofingthrough holes. in thesides of "th'e'mhassis'member I and thence into the flanges 6 at"the"sidesfofithemember 5. The

' flanges may be provided with a threaded aperture or nntsinay be providedfor'the screw 1 to fasten the member 5 rigidly to the'chassis at bothsides as shown in Fig. 3.

The vertical portion 4 of the member 3, which is termed herein the end cap is secured to the end of the chassis in any desired manner. As shown herein the attaching means is so constructed as to be readily attached or detached. To accomplish this the upper edge of the end cap is provided with a horizontal extension 8 having a pair of lugs or studs 9 projecting therefrom. The member 8 may be integral with or secured to the end cap 4. A pair of apertures ID are formed in the top wall of the chassis near the end margin thereof and in position to receive the studs 9. The studs 9 are provided with a downwardly bent outer portion which engage the outer edges of the apertures in when the end cap itself is closely received against the end of the chassis.

To assemble the members 3 upon the chassis they are tipped at an angle to permit the studs 9 to enter the apertures l0 and then moved down into operating position with the portion 5 horizontal. To complete the assembly it is only necessary to insert the screws I.

' sembled provide an extremely durable safe and eificient body member for the fixture within which the necessary ballast and wiring are re-; ceived.

All that remains to be done to complete the fixture is to mount a reflector l4 upon the bottom of the chassis. The reflector desirably has a.

substantially fiat central portion which fits closely against the bottom edges of the chassis I. These edges may be bent outwardly as at 5 to constitute a flange against which the reflector rests and which serve to add rigidity to the whole fixture.

Desirably the reflector is bowl shaped in cross with apertures through which the lampholders project when it is in operating position. After the reflector has been secured in position the lamps l8 may be placed in the holders [3.

To remove the reflector the lamps are removed and the latches rotated to releasing position. The reflector is thus readily removed for cleaning and when removed also permits ready access to the interior of the fixture for repair, adjustment or replacement of parts.

The fixture of the invention may be installed by using a conventional clamp type bracket interengaging with the grooves 2 in the chassis I or it may be chain supported as shown in the drawings.

To provide means for connecting the chains to the fixture the end caps 4 desirably are extended beyond their points of contact with the ends of the chassis to present ears l9. The ears have apertures therein withinvwhich the chains 2| are secured. The chains 2| form an inverted Y shape connection with the main support chain 22. The chains 22 are secured to the ceiling or other supporting area.

The ear l9 also serves another purpose. Desirable another aperture 23 is formed in each ear for the purpose of receiving bolts 24 to serve as connections between abutting ends of fixtures when they are arranged in line as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent that the chain type of support in connection with the present invention forms a very rigid and efiicient supporting means in that the chain is directly connected to the combined one piece end cap and lampholder support 3, which in turn supports all of the other elements of the fixture in as much as the other elements are all connected to and hang therefrom.

A knockout 25 may be provided in the end cap portions 4 to accommodate the wiring from one fixture to another when the fixtures are installed in line.

We claim:

A fixture for tubular electric lamps comprising: an open-ended channehshaped chassis an L-shaped, unitary end plate and lampholder strap disposed at each end of said chassis and attached thereto, each end plate being connected to the top of the chassis at the ends thereof and each lampholder strap being connected to the sides of the chassis near the lower longitudinal edge and near the ends thereof; lampholders mounted on each lampholder strap and depending therefrom; a reflector lying beneath said chassis and in engagement with the lower longitudinal edges thereof; and a latch mounted on each lampholder strap and depending therefrom, a portion of each latch extending through an elongated slot therefor in said reflector to secure the reflector in mounted position.

. HAROLD D.

CHARLES E. BARKER.

REFERENCES CITED -The following references are-0f record in the file of this patent:

'UNI'IED STATES PATENTS 

